Dogs facing death in S.A. get new life in New Hampshire

Group regularly transports strays for adoption.

Updated 10:55 am, Sunday, October 21, 2012

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin is mobbed by dogs just delivered from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., shelter. The dogs were saved from being euthanized in the Alamo City.

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin is mobbed by dogs just delivered from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., shelter. The dogs were saved from being euthanized in the Alamo City.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Virginia Davidson has made several trips to transport rescued dogs from San Antonio to Nashua, N.H. Her dog, Grizzy, was adopted in San Antonio when she and her husband were residents.

Virginia Davidson has made several trips to transport rescued dogs from San Antonio to Nashua, N.H. Her dog, Grizzy, was adopted in San Antonio when she and her husband were residents.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Children play with dogs that will soon be loaded into a van in San Antonio for transportation to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., where they will be made available for adoption, on Sept. 29, 2012. Most of the dogs were rescued from Animal Care Services by Alamo Rescue Friends and were days or hours away from euthanization.

Children play with dogs that will soon be loaded into a van in San Antonio for transportation to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., where they will be made available for adoption, on Sept. 29, 2012.

Teri Martinez says goodbye to the puppy that she has fostered for three weeks as Virginia Davidson holds the dog before loading it into a van for a trip to New Hampshire on Sept. 29, 2012. The dogs were transported from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua to be adopted. less

Teri Martinez says goodbye to the puppy that she has fostered for three weeks as Virginia Davidson holds the dog before loading it into a van for a trip to New Hampshire on Sept. 29, 2012. The dogs were ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Emily (from left), Shelley and Frances Kendall bid farewell to Claire, the dog that they have fostered for three months, before returning her to the Alamo Rescue Friends group that will transport her to Nashua, N.H., for adoption on Sept. 29, 2012. Dogs were transported from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua.

Emily (from left), Shelley and Frances Kendall bid farewell to Claire, the dog that they have fostered for three months, before returning her to the Alamo Rescue Friends group that will transport her to Nashua,

A van carrying more than 40 dogs rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services arrives at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., upon completing the 2,000-mile journey on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs were in danger of being euthanized and instead will be adopted.

A van carrying more than 40 dogs rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services arrives at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., upon completing the 2,000-mile journey on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs

Virginia Davidson and Opie Oppenheimer arrive at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., with more than 40 dogs rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs will be put up for adoption.

Virginia Davidson and Opie Oppenheimer arrive at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., with more than 40 dogs rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs will be put

Dogs peer from their cages after their arrival in New Hampshire following a 2,000-mile journey from San Antonio on Oct. 1, 2012. They will be put up for adoption.

Dogs peer from their cages after their arrival in New Hampshire following a 2,000-mile journey from San Antonio on Oct. 1, 2012. They will be put up for adoption.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin (right) hands puppies to Ginny Robinson at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., after a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 dogs, many of which were rescued from euthanization, made the trip and will be put up for adoption.

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin (right) hands puppies to Ginny Robinson at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., after a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40

Dogs peer from their cages after their arrival in New Hampshire folloing their 2,000-mile journey from San Antonio on Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs, which were collected by Alamo Rescue Friends in San Antonio, will be put up for adoption.

Dogs peer from their cages after their arrival in New Hampshire folloing their 2,000-mile journey from San Antonio on Oct. 1, 2012. The dogs, which were collected by Alamo Rescue Friends in San Antonio, will

Candice Ferguson carries two puppies from a van which just completed a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday. Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 rescued dogs were transported to the facility, where they will be put up for adoption.

Candice Ferguson carries two puppies from a van which just completed a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday. Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin unloads a dog from its carrier at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., after a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 dogs, many of which were rescued from euthanization, made the trip and will be put up for adoption.

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin unloads a dog from its carrier at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., after a trip of more than 2,000 miles from San Antonio on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 dogs, many

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin is mobbed by dogs just delivered from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 dogs, many of which were rescued from euthanization, made the trip and will be put up for adoption.

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin is mobbed by dogs just delivered from San Antonio to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. More than 40 dogs, many of which were rescued from

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin holds "Thomas Tripod," a three-legged dog rescued in San Antonio and transported to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Thomas will be put up for adoption, along with more than 40 other dogs from S.A., many of which were rescued from euthanization by the Alamo Rescue Friends group.

Veterinarian Kathy Caughlin holds "Thomas Tripod," a three-legged dog rescued in San Antonio and transported to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Thomas will be put up for

A dog rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services and transported more than 2,000 miles to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., watches from its pen, where it will be quarantined for 48 hours and later put up for adoption.

A dog rescued from San Antonio's Animal Care Services and transported more than 2,000 miles to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H., watches from its pen, where it will be quarantined for 48 hours and

A headstone marks the grave of an unknown dog on the grounds of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H. Society officials said that a dog that died on nearby roads was picked up by a dog lover who paid for a respectable burial.

A headstone marks the grave of an unknown dog on the grounds of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, N.H. Society officials said that a dog that died on nearby roads was picked up by a dog lover who paid for

Addie, a dog rescued from a San Antonio pound and transported to Nashua, N.H., where she was adopted, is cuddled by her owners, Jacquie Keeves and Erin Butterworth, on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

Addie, a dog rescued from a San Antonio pound and transported to Nashua, N.H., where she was adopted, is cuddled by her owners, Jacquie Keeves and Erin Butterworth, on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Winslow is held by his foster mom shortly before a previous transport to Nashua, N.H., by Alamo Friends Rescue on April 22, 2012.

Winslow is held by his foster mom shortly before a previous transport to Nashua, N.H., by Alamo Friends Rescue on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Dog foster mom Anne Meyer gets a hug from Dosi the dog as Greg Kidd prepares to load him for a previous trip to waiting, adoptive families in Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Dog foster mom Anne Meyer gets a hug from Dosi the dog as Greg Kidd prepares to load him for a previous trip to waiting, adoptive families in Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Alamo Rescue Friends foster parents prepare their dogs for a previous trip to Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Alamo Rescue Friends foster parents prepare their dogs for a previous trip to Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends loads a dog during a previous ARF transport on April 22, 2012. The dog will be adopted after his journey to Nashua, N.H.

Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends loads a dog during a previous ARF transport on April 22, 2012. The dog will be adopted after his journey to Nashua, N.H.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Veronica Wang looks over some of the dogs before a previous transport to Nashua, N.H., by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

Veronica Wang looks over some of the dogs before a previous transport to Nashua, N.H., by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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A dog waits to be loaded in the van and taken to waiting, adoptive parents in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

A dog waits to be loaded in the van and taken to waiting, adoptive parents in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends talks to dog foster parent Dean Neuzil prior to loading the dogs for a previous journey to Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends talks to dog foster parent Dean Neuzil prior to loading the dogs for a previous journey to Nashua, N.H., on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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A dog waits to be loaded in the van and taken to waiting, adoptive parents in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

A dog waits to be loaded in the van and taken to waiting, adoptive parents in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport by Alamo Rescue Friends on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends prepares the van to take 31 dogs to adoptive families in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport on April 22, 2012.

Virginia Davidson of Alamo Rescue Friends prepares the van to take 31 dogs to adoptive families in Nashua, N.H., before a previous transport on April 22, 2012.

Photo: Robin Jerstad, For The Express-News

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Before a previous trip, Lyn Robison (center), an Animal Care Services employee, says goodbye to her foster dog, Marlee (left) and another foster dog, Piper, as three dozen dogs were loaded into the Alamo Rescue Friends pet transport unit to be sent to a no-kill shelter in New Hampshire, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010.

Before a previous trip, Lyn Robison (center), an Animal Care Services employee, says goodbye to her foster dog, Marlee (left) and another foster dog, Piper, as three dozen dogs were loaded into the Alamo Rescue

Before a previous trip, Lynn Tilton (right) hugs transport unit driver Virginia Davidson (left) after loading her foster dog, Mandy, as three dozen dogs were sent on their way in the Alamo Rescue Friends pet transport unit to a no-kill shelter in New Hampshire, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010.

Before a previous trip, Lynn Tilton (right) hugs transport unit driver Virginia Davidson (left) after loading her foster dog, Mandy, as three dozen dogs were sent on their way in the Alamo Rescue Friends pet

Alamo Rescue Friends founder Virginia Davidson, 28, tears up as she talks about the reasons that drove her to start the nonprofit — which transports dogs from high-kill shelters to no-kill shelters in another state — on Aug. 29, 2010.

Alamo Rescue Friends founder Virginia Davidson, 28, tears up as she talks about the reasons that drove her to start the nonprofit — which transports dogs from high-kill shelters to no-kill shelters in another

Donated collars and leashes are placed on table as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends and Animal Care Services gather to load up more than a dozen dogs before a previous journey Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, a no kill shelter.

Donated collars and leashes are placed on table as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends and Animal Care Services gather to load up more than a dozen dogs before a previous journey Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The

Dog foster parent Liz Braden says goodbye to Dottie, as the sheltie mix and more than a dozen other dogs before they were transported to New Hampshire by Alamo Rescue Friends volunteers on a previous trip, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, a no-kill shelter.

Dog foster parent Liz Braden says goodbye to Dottie, as the sheltie mix and more than a dozen other dogs before they were transported to New Hampshire by Alamo Rescue Friends volunteers on a previous trip,

Alamo Rescue Friends founder Virginia Davidson (left) hugs Animal Care Service Advisory Board member Rita Braeutigam, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, before a previous dog transport. Davidson and her husband, Greg Kidd, started ARF after learning of the stray problem while living a year-and-a-half in San Antonio. Now residing in Connecticut, the couple is transporting more than a dozen dogs from ACS to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, N.H., a no-kill shelter.

Terrier mix Roxy waits to be loaded onto a van as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends prepare for a previous transport of more than a dozen dogs, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, a no-kill shelter.

Terrier mix Roxy waits to be loaded onto a van as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends prepare for a previous transport of more than a dozen dogs, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane

Animal Care Services foster parent Alexis Forchee (left) and Advisory Board Member Rita Braeutigam line up with other volunteers from ACS and Alamo Rescue Friends as they load up more than a dozen dogs for a previous transportation to New Hampshire, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, a no-kill shelter.

Animal Care Services foster parent Alexis Forchee (left) and Advisory Board Member Rita Braeutigam line up with other volunteers from ACS and Alamo Rescue Friends as they load up more than a dozen dogs for a

Animal Care Services foster parent John Davis (left) and volunteer Marcy Lynch meet up with other volunteers from ACS and Alamo Rescue Friends to load up more than a dozen dogs for a previous transportation to New Hampshire, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, a no-kill shelter.

Animal Care Services foster parent John Davis (left) and volunteer Marcy Lynch meet up with other volunteers from ACS and Alamo Rescue Friends to load up more than a dozen dogs for a previous transportation to

Dolly, a terrier mix, waits in her cage as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends and Animal Care Services load up more than a dozen dogs for a previous transportation Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, a no-kill shelter.

Dolly, a terrier mix, waits in her cage as volunteers from Alamo Rescue Friends and Animal Care Services load up more than a dozen dogs for a previous transportation Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The dogs were headed

The markers honored pets that included an unknown dog killed by a hit-and-run driver, a pony named Dolly and Creampot the cat, “a victim of the Great Nashua Fire of 1930.”

Alamo Rescue Friends founder Virginia Davidson steered the van full of rescued strays past a waving woman with her two dogs. Debbie Lavoie and her dogs then trailed the van to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua shelter.

Since March, Lavoie has been greeting new animal arrivals with Ace, one of nine dogs Davidson brought from San Antonio to this New Hampshire community two years ago, and Casey, adopted from the July transport.

This was the end of a long journey on a road some call Last Chance Highway.

Weeks before their arrival in New England, these dogs were set to be euthanized in San Antonio, which has struggled to address its high stray population while developing a no-kill policy.

Until the city achieves its goal, San Antonio has partnered with groups that save animals by taking them from the Alamo City to areas equipped to absorb the strays.

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So every eight weeks, Davidson joins a growing convoy from the South to New England, where adopters outnumber the homeless dogs.

For the past two years, Davidson, her husband, Greg Kidd, and family members have taken strays rescued from Animal Care Services to the state, whose motto is “Live Free or Die.”

Although they moved to New Hampshire in early 2010, they return to San Antonio to make the drive back up with the dogs. They made the first trip in June 2010 with nine dogs; to date they've transported 392 dogs from San Antonio to the Nashua shelter.

“It's this total transformative journey for the dogs, from being on an euthanasia list at ACS to people waiting for them,” she said. “It's a big turnaround for the dogs who supposedly nobody wanted, but it's not true — they were just in the wrong spot.”

ARF also transports smaller groups of strays to rescue groups in Rhode Island, Vermont and Massachusetts.

A cultural divide

There's a cultural divide in play, some experts say: In the South, many pet owners reject the thought of spaying or neutering their pets, which is key to reducing the stray population.

ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said the sterilization issue is about more than laws.

“It's about cultural perception and gender perception,” she said. “There's no denying that spay/neuter is the only 100 percent way to combat the animal overpopulation problem, in San Antonio, in Texas, or in the nation as a whole.”

According to the national Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, the number of adoptions out of Southern shelters is far less than the intake numbers, leading to more that were put down.

ACS director Kathy Davis said the efforts of ARF and another nonprofit that transports strays, Tracy's Dogs, contributed to the 75.2 percent live-release rate for the last week of September.

The transports also were credited as one of the strategic partners that helped ACS achieve a 62 percent live-release rate in fiscal 2012, the highest in its history.

Fewer than 5 percent of stray dogs are euthanized at the Nashua shelter, executive director Karen Bill told the Nashua Telegraph in August 2011, and if so, only for public safety reasons and not for lack of space.

The transport partners also agreed there were several major causes of the difference in volume of strays — less sterilization, the warm Southern climate that allows a longer breeding season than in the Northern states and lax leash and licensing laws that encourage owners to let their dogs to roam free.

In New England, stricter laws concerning liability, leashes, licenses and the care of dogs help prevent a proliferation of dogs running loose in the cities, advocates say.

More than 10 years ago, transport partners in both regions agreed that ferrying homeless dogs north could become a vital strategy to address the stray issue in the South.

Davidson, a dog lover since she was a child, was shocked when she moved to San Antonio with Kidd three years ago and learned about a stray population estimated as high as 100,000. It was a stark contrast to where she grew up in Connecticut, where it was rare to see dogs running loose.

So the couple began working with ARF co-founders and San Antonio transport coordinators Marcy Lynch and Rita Braeutigam.

How it works

Braeutigam and Lynch pull strays from ACS before euthanasia dates. San Antonio volunteers then foster the strays for three to five weeks.

Each trip costs $2,200, which covers gas and renting the van; donors pay $50 to sponsor each dog. Sponsors range from local high school students, animal lovers and businesses to a large group of New England donors.

Braeutigam said New England rescues are clamoring to help Southern shelters increase live release rates.

“I think it's important for them to be part of the solution,” said Braeutigam, also a member of the ACS advisory board. “There is a percentage of the population up there that wants to be part of the solution.”

She said residents want pets so much that many are willing to pay $395 per puppy from San Antonio. Adoption fees for older strays range from $295 for dogs 1 to 6 years old, and $155 for dogs 6 and older.

When Nashua residents hear Texas dogs are up for adoption, there's a line waiting at the shelter to see them, she said.

The city of San Antonio paid $1,800 for the first ARF trip in June 2010, as part of its strategic plan to increase the live-release rate. Tracy's Dogs also ships strays to other cities, including San Diego, Calif., and Denver. Between the two groups, more than 500 dogs were pulled from ACS from October 2011 through Aug. 27, with ARF rescuing 186 and Tracy's Dogs credited with saving 334.

But there's still a need, Davis said, for residents to take advantage of low-cost and free spay/neuter surgeries.

The rescuers

ARF, an all-volunteer group, is one of three rescues from the South that have partnered with the Nashua Humane Society to save more than 3,000 strays. Six years ago, the Humane Society of Shelby County, Ala., transported the first group, followed by the Homeward Bound Project of Mississippi.

The Nashua shelter's Bill said once people see the dogs' faces, they line up to adopt them.

When the latest group of San Antonio dogs arrived, Bill and her staff were preparing for Walktoberfest, the shelter's largest yearly fundraiser. At the last fest, 18 San Antonio dogs were adopted the end of the day. By the end of this year's fest on Oct. 6, 27 San Antonio dogs were adopted. By Oct. 18, seven were left.

“We like to think we're part of the solution,” Bill said. “It's not like the dogs can fix the problem; it needs to be fixed by people. It's not a problem just in Texas or the South, it's a global epidemic.”

In Nashua, Davidson's co-driver and brother-in-law, Jeff “Oppie” Oppenheimer, held Claire, a brown Chihuahua mix, as Davidson backed the van toward the shelter.

“The dogs are here!” animal care director Kathy Coughlin shouted. Staff and volunteers rushed out to a brisk wind that rustled rust-colored leaves. They yelled dogs' names they'd memorized from bios sent from ARF members in San Antonio.

On Sept. 30, foster families gathered at Braeutigam's home for the trip. Rick Kendall, his wife and children weren't first-time fosters, but they still dreaded saying goodbye.

“My kids are going to be crying like crazy,” Kendall said. “And I will be too.”

Outside, Oppenheimer called out dogs' names, signaling it was time to head north. Davidson took the first shift and drove toward Interstate 10 East.

There were 90-minute stops for bathroom breaks, two at a time, at welcome centers in Louisiana and Alabama. Late at night, the brood settled to sleep as National Public Radio played, hours from another day and lives as new pets of New Hampshire.

The dogs have linked fosters and adopters beyond the initial transport. On ARF's Facebook page, Trina Ramsdell wrote, “Please give May some kisses for us! We miss her so much! Would love to hear she's found a home!”

Ginny Lavoie Robinson from Nashua answered, “May was adopted out to a wonderful couple!! They fell in love with her at first sight.”

The day after the dogs arrived, Debbie Lavoie returned to the shelter with her daughter, Emily Coughlin, for the fourth meeting with residents who adopted three of Casey's sisters. They met in outside kennels, reserved for meet and greets, where they first bonded with their pets.

Lavoie had one message for San Antonio — “We love their dogs, and they should, too.”

vtdavis@express-news.net

Staff Writer Vianna Davila contributed to this report.

Correction: A local group's efforts to find homes in New Hampshire for dogs on Animal Care Services' euthanasia list is credited with helping ACS achieve a 62 percent live-release rate in fiscal 2012, the highest in its history. A story on Sunday's page A1 and on mySA.com misstated the rate.